The US Open Series is quickly moving towards the main event in New York as the WTA is making its penultimate stop at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati this week. We’re already there, capturing the qualifying stage of the tournament, as well as practices of top players, including world #1 Karolina Pliskova.

Held in the suburb of Mason, the Western & Southern Open is one of five Premier 5 tournaments on the WTA calendar and arguably the most prestigious stop in the US Open Series swing.

Thanks to the tournament’s status, a bumper field has assembled in Ohio, featuring all active top players aside from Victoria Azarenka, who has withdrawn for personal reasons, as well as Maria Sharapova, who had already arrived on site on Friday before being forced to withdraw due to her lingering arm injury.